AndrewBlakeNew York, NY – The National Football League rejected a full-page ad for its official Super Bowl program, submitted by a veterans group, which simply said two words: Please Stand.
The NFL told Fox News they objected to the words “Please Stand” due to its political nature.
American Veterans (AMVETS) said the same ad was accepted by the National Hockey League and the National Basketball Association, and is set to run in those leagues’ all-star game programs.
“Freedom of speech works both ways. We respect the rights of those who choose to protest, as these rights are precisely what our members have fought — and in many cases died — for. But imposing corporate censorship to deny that same right to those veterans who have secured it for us all is reprehensible and totally beyond the pale,” said AMVETS National Commander Marion Polk to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a Jan. 22 letter.
The NFL told FOX News that it has never run that type of ad in its Super Bowl program.
“The Super Bowl game program is designed for fans to commemorate and celebrate the game, players, teams and the Super Bowl. It’s never been a place for advertising that could be considered by some as a political statement,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.
The Harris Poll released a poll in November that said that 60 percent of respondents disapproved of how NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had handled the national anthem controversy.
The poll also stated that 77 percent said that players should stand for the national anthem and 59 percent said there should be a rule requiring the players to do so, according to The Hill.
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick started the protests during the preseason of the 2016 season. Many other players continued to kneel for the national anthem this year.
The NFL’s TV ratings have suffered dramatically over the past two years due to the protests.
Do you think that the NFL should be rejecting this ad while allowing players to kneel? We’d like to hear from you. Please let us know in the comments.